Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-17
THE EVENT OF THE DAY.

THE EVENT OF THE DAY.
The contamination of the great enterprise
Of completing the trunk line of railroad
connecting the Columbia with the waters
of the Gulf of Mexico, and uniting in a
common bond of commerce the father OF
waters of the great north and the far south
delta of the mightiest river of the CONT
nent, is the event of the hour that makes
this red letter day in the industrial and
commercial history of the coast.
Shortly after this paper has reached its
morning readers, the fall Of the hammer
upon the last spike that completes the
California and Oregon Railroad will be
announced from the bells Of the city, and
tell the story of the crowning achievement
of an enterprise born of the energy, will
and far-sightedness of men whose business
beginnings were in the city of Sacramento.
The clangor of the metal-throated mes
sengers of good news, will tell a story fuller
of good meaning to the State than any an
nouncement OF industrial achievement
since bell and artillery signaled the union
of the first great transcontinental rail-
WAYS.
The construction of the California and
Oregon Railroad has been prosecuted I'M
der difficulties and in the face of oppo-
sition and obstacles that would have
dismaved less men determined and cour-
ageous than the pioneer railway builders
of the State. One only of the little group
ofmen who conceived, planned and carried
out to development and full maturity the
railway system of California will to-day be
so fortunate as to be present at the COM
pletion of the great trunk line paralleling
the Pacific coast His co-laborers, still
living, are at different posts ofself-imposed
OF public duty, but watching with pro-
foundest interest the fall of the hammer
in his hands that rounds out and finishes
another of their great conceptions, and all
of which have been such mighty factors in
the maturing of this coast, and the devel-
opment of its boundless resources.
There was time and time again when
these untiring men Of iron will and una
batting energy might have retired, crowned
with honors, to spend in freedom from care
well-earned years of rest and quietude
They have not availed of these opportu
mites, but have continued in harness, pro
noting works that are related as j.
heart to body, to the vital interests of tn,
State and coast, and that more than any
other agencies have lifted California from
4 remote province of civilization into al
imperial State of wealth, production ant
culture.
In the history of business achievement
no others have accomplished in uselu
lives so much as these Sacramento pioneer
railroad builders The State does then
honor to-day, and pays the proud tribute
of Acknowledgement to their splendid in
dustrial conquests As the atmosphere 0
years of contention is cleared of the pre-
JUDGE envy, political chicane, business
which have done battle against the railway
builders Of the State, the world see,
clearly how stupendous are the enterprise.
they originated, and with what untrins
energy and mistaken determination they
have been carried out. When the histor,
of the land is written from standpoint
far distant in time, the plans and achieve
ments of these railway pioneers of the
Pacific viii be recorded as among the
grandest results of human energy and
business genius.
We have SO frequently dwelt upon the
commercial significance of the completion
of the California and Oregon road, and the
immense value to the State of the new
current of trade to throb along its iron
arteries, that it is not necessary now to
moro than refer to the subject. For to-day
the people will have thought only for the
unpretentious ceremony that clcses the
gap in the line Of quick communication
between California and Oregon, concern
ing the full meaning Of which all are in
telligent. The people of the Sacramento
valley more than any other feel keen in
terest in it, and enter into the spirit of the
occasion as heartily as those possibly can
whose good fortune it will be to be present
and witness the completion of the great
work. Sacramento, the city of the valley
halls the event joyfully. Loyal to the
faith that the road could and would be
built; never wavering in her friendship
for it or in resistance of efforts to cripple
1t, she to-day more sincerely than any
reioi5cs IN the event Of the hour.